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Which Biome Has Most Biodiversity and Why?

November 6, 2024
written by Sidra Batool

The biome with the most biodiversity is the tropical rainforest. This means it has the most variety of plants and animals living in it. As a result, tropical rainforests are estimated to be home to over half of all the different species on the planet, even though they only cover a small part of the Earth’s land.

image showing Which Biome Has Most Biodiversity and Why?

Why Tropical Rainforests Have High Biodiversity?

Here are a few reasons why Tropical Rainforests Have High Biodiversity:

1. Warm Temperatures and High Rainfall

The main reason tropical rainforests have the highest biodiversity is because of their warm temperatures and high amounts of rainfall. This warm, wet climate provides the perfect conditions for many different species to thrive and grow. The warm weather allows plants and animals to live and reproduce all year round, and the abundant rainfall gives them plenty of water.

2. Varied Microhabitats

Another key reason is the different layers of vegetation in a tropical rainforest, from the ground up to the tall trees in the canopy. This variety of habitats, or microhabitats, allows many different species to live in the same area, each occupying its own special spot.

3. Evolutionary Advantage

Over millions of years, the stable climate of tropical rainforests has also allowed plants and animals to evolve and diversify into a huge number of unique species. This long period has given life lots of chances to adapt and specialize.

4. High Species Richness

Tropical rainforests contain more species of plants and animals than any other biome on the planet. Estimates suggest they may be home to over 50% of the world’s total species, even though they only cover around 7% of the Earth’s land surface.

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